RESUMEN
In a multicentric study at several leading hospitals of this country, microbiological assessment was carried out in 500 specimens from patients suffering from respiratory tract infections (RTIs; both upper and lower) for a period of 6 months from January, 1999 to June, 1999. The antibiotic sensitivity study was done in 201 isolates from 500 different specimens of throat swab, postpharyngeal swab, sinusitis drainage fluid, sputum, broncho-alveolar lavage (BL), etc. Ceftibuten, an orally active third generation cephalosporin showed encouraging results when compared with seven other selected antibiotics used for RTI. The majority of the patients with acute or chronic RTIs showed an excellent in vitro response to ceftibuten in the analysis of the isolates. Seventy to ninety per cent of the isolated respiratory pathogens were found to be sensitive to ceftibuten in vitro; which offers a promising alternative to other antibiotics included in this study.